a The Wisconsin father is currently on trial for the brutal murder of his ex-partner’s new lover, whom he allegedly stalked and beat to death with an object before disposing of his remains.
Zachariah Anderson, 42, is charged with the murder of Rosalio Gutierrez Jr. in May 2020 at his Wood Creek apartment.
Gutierrez, 40, had been dating Mr Anderson’s ex-girlfriend, Sadie Beacham – with whom the accused killer shares three children.
Prosecutors allege Mr Anderson was jealous of the new relationship and stalked his love rival.
Meanwhile, Mr. Anderson’s defense claims the state failed to investigate other potential suspects.
The 42-year-old is now on trial in Kenosha County Circuit Court charged with first-degree willful homicide, concealment of a corpse and stalking. He faces life in prison.
Here’s what we know about the case:
Disappearance
Guttierez was last seen or heard from on May 17, 2020.
Two days later, a concerned Mrs. Beacham visited his home to check on him after being unable to contact him.
When she arrived at his apartment, she discovered that the patio door was open and there was blood on the floor, furniture, and ceiling of the house.
A rug was also missing from the property, she told investigators.
Rosalio Gutierrez has not been seen for almost three years
(Handout)
Ms. Beacham contacted the police who conducted a welfare check at Gutierrez’s home.
Inside, investigators found large amounts of blood and signs of a struggle, according to an indictment.
The victim’s body was never found, but investigators believe he is dead based on the massive amount of blood found in his apartment.
Murder
On the evening of May 17, 2020, prosecutors allege that Mr. Anderson went to Gutierrez’s apartment and brutally brutally murdered him because he was jealous of his relationship with his former partner.
He then allegedly removed Gutierrez’s body.
The morning after Gutierrez was last seen alive, he was seen on surveillance footage going to a local WalMart where he bought garbage bags, latex gloves, and bleach wipes.
He also bought cans of sardines.
Investigators approached Mr Anderson when Ms Beacham revealed she believed her ex was tracking her movements.
On the day Guttierez’s death was discovered, officers found smoldering fire pits at both Mr. Anderson’s home and his ranch, with the remains of a bottle of bleach and the accused killer’s clothing among the ashes.
Prosecutors said Guttierez’s DNA was subsequently found in Mr Anderson’s van and there was evidence that the interior had been scrubbed with bleach.
Zachariah Anderson is pictured in mug shot
(Kenosha County Jail)
Parts of the vehicle’s interior carpet had also been removed.
Curiously, two opened and uneaten cans of sardines were also discovered under the passenger seat, the indictment says.
To arrest
On May 21, 2020, Mr. Anderson was arrested and charged with two counts of stalking.
In December, he was also charged with murder and concealing a corpse.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Jealousy and stalking
During his high-profile trial, jurors have heard that Mr. Anderson was jealous of his ex-partner’s new relationship and was spying on the couple.
On 15 March, Mr Anderson’s 15-year-old daughter took the stand to testify that her father had asked her to spy on her mother and record “any time my mother would get upset”.
She testified that he would bring up Guttierez “often” when she saw him.
Then, not long before Guttierez’s disappearance, Mr. Anderson reportedly also took his daughter to spy on the couple.
On the night of April 24 — less than a month before the murder — she said her father drove them both to her mother’s house to watch Mrs. Beacham and Gutierrez through the window.
Anderson also went through Gutierrez’s truck and took photos of the vehicle’s license plate and registration, she said.
The accused killer appears to be signaling daughter to stop talking as she testifies against him
He then rang the doorbell at the house and fled, she said.
The teen also testified that her father told her about his plans to follow his love rival – whom he referred to with racial slurs.
“He said something about showing him who the guy was, and I didn’t quite get it, but you understood things that my dad was referring to or suggesting,” she said.
“My dad said to me, he said, ‘Maybe I’ll watch him sometime or follow him to his house for fun sometime.’ Those were exactly his words to me.”
Chaos in the courtroom
A dramatic moment unfolded in court on March 15 when Mr Anderson appeared to issue a signal to warn his teenage daughter to stop speaking as she testified against him.
Mr. Anderson was seen holding his hand over his mouth and pursed his lips as he stared at his 15-year-old daughter on the witness stand at Kenosha County Circuit Court.
Prosecutors accused the defendant of signaling his daughter as she testified.
Meanwhile, the defense also accused Ms Beacham of using sign language to communicate with her daughter on the stand.
